The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-03-02

government OF his c0untrys he car
RED ont too literally the orders OF
those whom the Confederate Consti-
tuition msds his superiors, although
he must have known them to be en-
tirely ignorant OF the science OF war.
He appears to have forgotten that he
was the great revolutionary chief, en-
gagged In a great revolutionary war;
that he was no mere leader In q po-
litical struggle OF parties carried on
within the lines OF an old, well estab-
lished form OF government. 1t was
very clear TO many at the time, as 1t
will be commonly acknowledged
now, that the south could only
hope to win under the rule OF mil
itary dictator. II Gen. Washington
had had q Mr.. Davis over him, could
he have accomplished what he did2
1t will, / am sure, be news to many
that Gen. Lee was given the command
over all the Confederate armies O
month or two only before the final
collapse, and that the military policy
of the South WAS throughout the war
dictated by Mr.. Davis, as President OF
the Confederate States. Lee had no
power TO reward soldiers or to promote
officers. 1t was Mr.. Davis who selected
the men to command divisions and
armies. Is 1t to be supp osed that
Cromwell, King William I'LL, Wash
in ton or Napoleon could have sue
ceeded in the revolutions with which
their names are identified had they
submitted to the will and authority OF
politician az Lee did to Davis7"
DEFENsK or RICHMOND.
Lord Wolseley says that Seen Lee
was opposed to the defense Of Rich
mond at the last, and that he was
right, for II he had drawn Gen. Grants
army into the interior far away from
its base OF supplies, he would have
greatly weakened It. But Ii were vain
TO speculate. II ohmond fell and Lees
army surrendered. Who shall ever
iathom the depth of Lees anguish
when the bitter end came, and when,
beaten down by sheer force Of num-
beers, and by absolutely nothing else,
he found himself obliged to surren-
der. The handful OF starving men re-
naming with him laid down their
arms, and the proud OoDfederacy
ceased to be. Surely, the crushing,
maddenipg anguish OF awful sorrow
is only known to the leader, who has
30 failed to accomplish some lofty,
some noble aim for which he has long
striven with might and main, with
heart and soul In the interests OF king
or of country. A smiling face, a cheer
full manner may conceal the sore place
from the eyes, possibly even from the
knowledge OF his friends, but there Ii
no healing for such wound which
eats into the very heart Of him who
has received IL"
AN ESTIMATE OF LEE.
The articles closes with this en-
thusiastic estimate OF the Confederate
chieitain: "When all the angry feel
ings roused by the secession arr
buried with those which existed wher
the Declaration sf Independence wal
written; when Americans can review
the history Of their last great rebellion
with calm impsrtiality, believe al
will admit that Gen, Lee lowered ia
above oil men on either side In tina
struggle. / believe he will be re
garded not only az the most prom
fnent figure OF the Oonfederacy, bat a
the great American of the nineteenth
century, whose statue Is well worthy
to stand on an equal pedestal witt
that OF Washington, and whose mem
ory is equally worthy 10 be enshrinet
In the hearts Of all OF his countrymen.
INTERESTING INTERVIEW WITH LORI
woLsELRT, As TO WAR.
The London correspondent Of tn
New York Evening Post telegIaphs al
interview he has had with Gen. Lor,
Wolselpy, In the course OF which h
expressed some very interesting opin
ions on the relations OF England al,
the United States with regard to tn
future OF civilization. The converse
ton began by DISCUSSION OF the Ger
man elections and the prospects Q
peace in Europe.
MAY one" inquired, "ask with
out indisCreticn what is your owl
view of the relations Of the grea
powersr"
: "Simply expressing my own persona
opinion" Gen. Wolseley replied. I"
should say feel sure that vast an
appalling war Is certainly in IN
near future. But this, indeed, every
E body may be said to know. The RAP
idly increasing aImaments, the hug
burdens which several Of the power
are laying upon themselves, and tn
directions in which the armament
are being developed and massed max
war inevitable. But whether II wi
bH this summer or next there is onl
, one man In Europe who knows-ths
is Bismarck"
what do you take to be the lesso
| OF the German elections2 Do the
mean Franco-G German peaceW
81 do not see that they do. BIZ
s their overwhelming lesson to m
s mind is the disregard OF the populi
4 voice in imperial matters. Bismarck
4 line from first TO Lass has been to di
: regard the peoples wishes, snu
8 them and ride rougbshod over then
}. Yet by doing 30 he has created out
q handful Of pet y German States OF
i OF the most powerful Empires OF th
n world; an Empire, moreover, in whiC
o the very people whom he has thu
. disregarded are the first TO take emo
:. nous legitimate PRIDE"
j. "Do you see the profile OF an 4
= Olish BiemarcS on the horizon z"
1t mo" replied Gen. Wolsley rath'
D. sadly, al do not. The miserable squa
10 bles and petty personal aims OF o
d party government preclude any gu,
ID hope. do see, however, with q
N greatest satisf action and gratitude, q
Ia beginning in EUglish life Of somethi
u like national party, in which Mber
n Conservative and Radical will dr.
er their differences on the questions
d. empire, pax Britannica, and indie
is an ultimate federation OF all Engli
u speaking peoples" :,
IL "That, then, is your ultimate id'
Q, for usf"
al at H." Gen. wolslsy said with {
nd thusiasm. "When every man "
NO speaks English in the same Empire
re federation, or whatever 1t may.
IN called, an International miliennlu
On will be reached. For we should tn
psi be able to impose peace and treed(